The Guatemalan authorities have changed the bidding conditions and extended the deadline by three months.
The changes are designed to ensure the participation of more bidders and resolve some of the concerns of interested companies.
Carlos Colom, president of the National Electric Energy Comission (ENEE), explained that the most important change is to the ‘Act of God’ clause, which protects investors against possible actions by groups opposed to energy projects.
Small generators may participate in bidding processes called by the country´s electricity distributors.
The official Resolution 268-2010 of the National Electric Energy Committee (ENEE) was published on November 22nd, and includes changes to technical clause number 13, proposed by the Wholesale Market Administrator.
"This leaves the door open for small hydro, solar and wind producers to obtain contracts not just in the spot market.
CNEE, the National Electric Energy Commission, will invite bids for supplying 800MW of energy in the second half of June.
Authorities will receive offers by the end of 2010, and plan to award the contract on March 2011.
Carlos Colom, president of the CNEE, told Prensalibre.com that “the purchase will include an option contract. If the prices are lower in the spot market than on the contract, they will be purchased there”.
The Electric Energy Commission could launch a bidding process to build and install secondary transmission lines.
Carlos Colom, president of the Energy Commission, explained that these lines (69 and 138 volts) are included in the Electrical Transmission Expansion Plan (PET).
“The objective is to reduce the losses in the electricity distribution system, which account for 300 GWh per year or $250 million”, reported Prensalibre.com.
Interested in bidding for electric transmission projects in Guatemala expressed concern over rights of way for electric lines.
Complications could arise if agreements are not struck with owners of plantations through which electric lines should travel, warned several businessmen, in a second informative meeting for the project.
The president of the National Electric Commision (CNEE) replied that they "...
The winning company will be announced by Guatemala's 'Junta Calificadora' on August 27th.
The offers presented for supervising the construction of the new electricity distribution network range from $5 million to $13 million.
"Peruvian company Cesel S.A. presented the lowest priced offer, at $5.2 million, followed by Uruguayan company 'Consultores Regionales Asociados - Mercados Energéticos Consultores, S.
The National Commission of Electrical Energy (CNEE) opened the bidding process yesterday for the construction of a 1,394 kilometer power transmission network at a cost of $504 million.
Journalist Rosa María Bolaños wrote in Prensalibre.com: "Carlos Colom, president of the CNEE, opened the bidding process which established a September 29 deadline for submitting and receiving both economic and technical bids.